Little Ohio: A Nostalgic Look at the Buckeye State’s Smallest Towns
Little Ohio presents 100 of the state’s tiniest towns and most miniature villages. With populations under 500, these charming and unique locations dot the entire state―from Lake Seneca in the Northwest corner to Neville, bordering the Ohio River and the state of Kentucky. Little Ohio even ventures into Lake Erie, telling the story of Put-in-Bay and Kelley’s Island.
Little Ohio, written by lifelong resident Karen Robertson, is for anyone who grew up in a small town and for everyone who takes pride in being called an Ohioan. It’s one book with 100 places to love.
The selected locations help readers to appreciate the broader history of small-town life in Ohio. Yet each featured town boasts a distinct narrative, as unique as the citizens who call these places home. Some villages offer hundreds of years of history, such as Tarlton, laid out before Ohio had even gained statehood. Others were built with more expedience, such as Yankee Lake, a town that was incorporated simply so its founder could host dances on Sundays without breaking state law.
With full-color photographs, fun facts, and fascinating details about every locale, it’s almost as if you’re walking down Main Street, waving hello to folks who know you by name. These residents are innovators, hard workers, and―most of all―good neighbors. They’re people who have piled into small school houses to wait out roaring flood waters, rebuilt after disastrous fires took their homes, and captured bandits straight out of the Wild West.
In the weeks to come, be on the lookout for stories about Celeryville, Gilboa, and beautiful Sugar Bush Knolls.
About the author: Karen Robertson is proud to have been born and raised just outside the historic city of Cleveland, Ohio. Trading in the shores of Lake Erie for the banks of the Olentangy, Karen earned her Master’s degree in Public History from the Ohio State University in 2015.
She currently works as the Assistant Curator of Manuscripts at the Ohio History Connection, where she enjoys sharing the stories of Ohio’s amazing history each day. When she isn’t reading and writing about the past, Karen enjoys diving into a new board game with her husband, Jake; lacing up her tennis shoes for a run; or exploring the depths of her Netflix queue.
If you enjoyed this post, sign up for our newsletter now!
